FOREMAN IS BACK ON INDOOR TRACK

Gilman’s Johnnie Foreman returns to coaching indoor track

KEY EVENS RECORD WITH A 3-1 WIN OVER LUTHERAN

DIGITAL SPORTS & THE MIAA MOURN THE LOSS OF BEN EATON, SR.

The father of recent Gilman standout running back/linebacker Ben Eaton, Jr., the late Poet coach was a beloved figure in the Baltimore football community

Eaton, 58, was named The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro Coach of The Year in 2004, when he coached the Poets to the third of their four state football titles, 16-14, over Joppatowne of Harford County at M&T Bank Stadium.

Last fall, on his final birthday, Eaton guided the Poets to their most recent championship, 38-23, over Fort Hill of Cumberland in Allegany County, also at M&T Bank.
   
Eaton also was on the sidelines as an assistant to Stanley Mitchell in 1994 when Dunbar became Baltimore City’s first state titlist, 30-15, over Fort Hill in Class 2A. A year later, Eaton was an assistant to Mitchell’s Poets in their 30-28 overtime state title victory over Churchill of Montgomery County for the 3A championship.
 
After defeating Fort Hill last fall, Eaton was able to watch as Dante Jones, a linebacker for the Poets in ’94, coach Edmondson to a 2A state title-game win over McDonough of Charles County for its first crown. The win gave the city two state champions in the same season for the first time in its history.

Eaton’s best player, sophomore Tavon Austin, was named All-Metro Offensive Player of The Year last fall, and his son, Gilman linebacker Ben Eaton, Jr., was named All-Metro Defensive Player of The Year.

— Lem Satterfield

WATER POLO PREVIEW: CALVERT HALL IS STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT

Despite six straight titles and what coach Don Anderson calls his “best team” yet, Cardinals will be challenged by an improving field of MIAA opponents.

‘LITTLE L’ IS BIG AND BAD

Linda Clelland says her youngest son, Lane, “was never a star” in youth football. But the Notre Dame-bound offensive lineman should “shine” during McDonogh’s run for a second straight MIAA A Conference title.

Lane Clelland was known as “Little L,” as he progressed through his days in youth football. Now, however, as a 6-5, 265-pound offensive linman who has already accepted a full-scholarship to play football at Notre Dame, no one calls him little anymore.

by Lem Satterfield

For Lane Clelland, playing football wasn’t easy in the early days. Particularly since, being larger than most kids his own age, Lane was forced to “play up” against boys who were not only older, but more physically mature.

“By playing up, I matched or was right in the middle of what everybody else weighed, but their maturity levels always made a difference,” said Clelland, 17, who began with the Reisterstown Mustangs at age 6. “I would still have to make weight a lot of times, and they would weigh you before every game. I could eat, but I couldn’t gorge myself, which was ******* me.”

The situation was Deja Vu twice over for Linda Clelland. Two decades earlier, she had yanked her oldest son, Lou, from the sport because “I was afraid he would get hurt.” A few years after that,  however, Linda Clelland relented, deciding that her second son, Lance, “could handle the pressure.”

So by the time Lane donned shoulder pads — mostly as an offensive lineman — Linda Clelland was braced for the challenge that awaited her youngest of five children.

“Lane was always the youngest kid on the team and was never a star,” said Linda Clelland. “Playing with older kids” was hard for Lane, who didn’t always “fit in with the group.”

Years later, however, Lane Clelland stands tall in a class all his own.

Bound for Notre Dame on a full football scholarship, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound McDonogh senior is considered Maryland’s top recruit as an offensive lineman as well as the state’s No. 2 player overall and the 16th-ranked left tackle nationally at that position — all according to Rivals.com.

“Lane has the unique and rare ability of having the physical talents and being 6-5,” said 14th-year coach Dom Damico, whose past highly recruited Eagles’ players include Bobby Sabelhaus (Florida), Dwayne Stukes (Virginia), Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland), T.C. Cosby (Penn State) and Eric King (Wake Forest).

Clelland turned down more than 15 scholarship offers in choosing the Fighting Irish, including those from Michigan, Maryland and Virginia.

“College coaches want to see how you move your feet, how you stay in front of somebody and how aggressive you are as a run-blocker,” said Damico, whose Eagles shared last year’s MIAA A Conference title with Gilman and Loyola. “Lane’s a very aggressive blocker and he has a natural instinct to be. Plus he’s got skills on the edge and shows his pass-blocking. He’s not just colliding heads with everybody.”

Still, there is that video on Rivals.com which shows Clelland pancaking one defender after another.

“I do have a little bit of a mean streak, you know. I know how to explode and to finish,” said Clelland, 17, who was an MIAA A Conference runner-up wrestler and also competed in track’s shot put and discus. “But I really want my legacy to be about my technique. I want to be known as a gold lineman and a guy who does everything to help his team win.”
  
Unlike many top football recruits who have chosen early graduation, Clelland will complete his senior year. That will allow him to not only compete in wrestling, a sport in which the Eagles are also defending league champs, but to complete a senior project — “I want to put an engine together from junk yard scraps” — and attend the senior prom with his girlfriend.

“Even though he’s still got a little bit of kid in him, it’s kind of amazing to have seen Lane develop into the player he is now,” said McDonogh linebacker KC Woods, who played on a couple of Lane’s teams in their youth. “Lane was always pretty much a big goon who stood out because he was kind of a little too big and goofy.”

McDonogh baseball coach Chet Janiga recalls Clelland happily mowing his lawn during his youth, but has difficulty reconciling that image with the same behemoth he spotted this summer “throwing boulders over his shoulder” as part of an offseason training regimen overseen by his older brother, Lance.

“Lance is a great coach. And we have that connection that only he and I know how to turn off and on,” said Lane Clelland. “Of course there have been conflicts when you have someone pushing you and making suggestions 24 hours a day. But that’s just because you’re spending all of that time together.”

There was that time last season, for example, when Lane Clelland turned in a sub-par effort against Georgetown Prep, and “Lance had me running hills” at a local elementary school.

“With him being the coach, he just sort of puts me in my place and just says, ‘listen to me.’ And I do, because I know he knows best,” said Lane Clelland. “He’s just mentally been through everything that I’m dealing with or going to deal with. But when all of the football is put to the side, we’re like best friends.”

An assistant to Damico until recently, Lance, 28, won’t be on the sidelines for Lane this season. Having cccepted a position as tight ends’ coach at Dartmouth University, Lance Clelland is ending one of his dreams to fulfill another.

“It’s sad in one way, because I always wanted to coach Lane as a senior, and this was the year we were building toward,” Lance Clelland said earlier this month of a move that charges him, in part, with “recruiting the Maryland, DC and Virginia areas.

“Obviously, the decision to leave McDonogh was a tough one. Especially not getting the last opportunity to coach my brother, Lane, and all of his teammates,” said the elder Clelland, a 1997 McDonogh graduate who earned All-Metro honors as an offensive lineman before playing four years at Northwestern.

“As far as my keeping in contact with Lane,” Lance said. “I have no worries that he will have a dominating senior year.”

Nicknamed “Little L,”  in honor of Lance, the younger Clelland will line up alongside 6-4, 255-pound right tackle Tyler Goldberg, 6-2, 250-pound center Doug Schenk, 6-4, 265-pound left guard Sam Greenberg and 6-2, 285-pound right guard Jordan Davenport.

With nicknames such as, “Grizzly,” and, “Greenie,” and, “Doug-E-Fresh,” the groups ranks with Maryland’s best this season, and, by year’s end, could earn bragging rights as perhaps the most dominant in school history.

“We have five guys that we think are going to be very good. They have the physical size to stay in there and compete in the  A Conference, and that’s what you need,” said Damico, who believes Clelland will quietly inherit the leadership roles vacated by graduated vocal quarterback Jared Jorgenson.

“You don’t have to demand leadership from Lane, and I don’t think Lane will have to change his personality to lead this team,” Damico said. “He just comes to games and practices, trying to get better and working hard. When you have one of the top recruits in the country working that hard,, it’s contagious. Other kids are going to recognize that and to feed off of that.”

Lance Clelland’s training regimen for his little brother are gruelling to say the least, ranging from the use of weights, to those involving everything from a tractor trailer tire, to boulders, to a pickup truck and to a one-man blocking sled.

“There’s one where I’d go with my brother to the weight room. Warm up with the jump rope. Then I’d go to the squat rack, then the leg press for hamstrings and calves, and then a set of back workouts,” Lane Clelland said.

After that, it was time for dead lifts — “Romainian and straight leg.” After an upper arm biceps and triceps workout, “followed by the glutes,” Clelland said, “it was time to go outside.”

“That’s when he has me to push this truck about 50 yards, five times each way with a 30-second break in between,” said Lane Clelland, later referencing an excercise during which he pushed a tractor trailer tire up a hill.

In still another drill, “we found these big boulders,, and I had to keep flipping it over my head,” Lane recalled of a process repeated  over a distance of “about 45 or 50 yards” before its completion. Other tasks involved “20-yard sprints to work on my 40-time,” he said.

“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, no wonder Lane comes home so exhausted,'” said Linda Clelland. “But Lance is a good coach, and he’s very gifted  at coming up with ideas and ways to motivate his brother.”

With Lance at Dartmouth, look for Lane to come up with ways to push himself.

Lane developed a method for improving his blocking technique through the use of a tear-shaped speed bag that is attached to the tool shed next to his Reisterstown home and serves as an imaginary opponent.

Crouched before the speed bag as if it were the chest of an opponent of similar size, Lane Clelland takes open-handed swipes at the the apparatus as if controlling the rival player.

“In a way, being without Lance is good for me because when I get to Notre Dame, he’s not going to be around. So that’s getting me ready for the next level,” said Lane Clelland. “Anyway, you can’t beat going from being an assistant in high school to being an assistant in college. I’m excited, he’s excited, and we’ll still talk a bunch. It’s just an opportunity for both of us to shine together.”

Note: Lane Clelland will submit a weekly diary to DigitalSports starting Friday, Sept. 7. The diary will chart the Notre Dame-bound senior’s season-long experiences as a McDonogh student and as Maryland’s No. 1 offensive lineman recruit.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: TIME TO PRODUCE

“For
our team to be successful,” said coach Mike Clay, whose Saints are
11-10 over the past two seasons, “the bottom line is that we need to
score more.“

Coach: Mike Clay, fifth year (25-25 career)

Last year’s record: 6-4 overall, 3-4 MIAA B Conference

Offense: Spread

Defense: 4-3

Returning starters: offensive 2, defensive 4

Top players: J.P. Dalton, Sr., DE-TE, 6-3, 195; Marlon
Johnson, Sr., DE, 6-3, 225; JT Gataue, Sr., DT-OT, 6-1, 225; Dontra
Peters, Sr., RB-DB, 6-0, 185; John Anderson, Jr., SS-RB, 5-10, 165;
Jason Gonos, Jr.,  LB, 6-1, 195; Matt Mickler, Sr., OT, 6-3, 275; Alex
Carson, Sr., C, 6-3, 205; Neil Lewnes, Jr., RB, 5-7, 165; Danny Rogers, Sr., Slot, 5-8, 160;
Trey Quinn, Jr., WR, 6-3, 185; Peter Athens, Jr., 6-0, 185; Sam
Duquette, Jr., OG, 6-3, 245; Charlie Bueneman, Jr., LB, 6-1, 220; D.J. Ratliff, Soph., OT, 6-4, 305; Mark McNeil, Soph., WR, 6-3, 195; Marcus
Snipes, Soph., Ath., 6-0, 170; Garett Norris, Jr., OG, 5-10, 235; Basil Dawson, Jr., OL, 6-1, 245.

Outlook: Clay opened Southside Academy of Baltimore City in 2002, going from 2-8 over his first year before ending with consecutive 6-4 seasons and coming to St. Mary’s.  Although his Saints have gone 5-5, and, 6-4, Clay’s Saints have yet to produce, offensively, as he desires.        “For our team to be successful, we have to get more players involved throughout the season. What I mean by that is to become a more balanced offense that spreads the ball around,” said Clay. “Last season, we went to the spread offense to make that happen. But we still primarily ran the ball.  We need to throw the ball more to take some of the pressure off our young line of scrimmage.” Dalton, a returning All-MIAA B Conference player, Gataue, Mickler, Carson, Duquette, Norris and Dawson are part of an offensive line that is trying to incorporate five new starters. That line will be called upon to protect Peters, who has clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash; McNeil, whom Clay calls “one of the best receivers in the state;” Snipes, whom Clay calls, “the most athletic player in the county;” and Athens, a prolific passer who transferred from Northern High of Calvert County. “The Bottom line is we need to score more this year than we have the past two seasons,” Clay said. “As for the defense, we need them to be consistent like they have the past two years. That should come from the leadership of our defensive line.” All-MIAA Johnson leads the way in that department, along with Gataue and Dalton.

St. Mary’s head coach Mike Clay says his Saints must “score more” to be successful this season.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: CAN EAGLES SOAR TO REPEAT IN A CONFERENCE?

McDonogh coach Dom Damico’s offensive line boasts Maryland’s top recruit at tackle, his receivers “go eight deep,” and his quarterback has “a Division I arm.”

Last year’s record:(6-3, 4-1 MIAA A Conference)

Offense: Spread

Defense: 4-4

Returning starters: Offensive  7,  Defensive 7

Top players: Lane Clelland, Sr., OL-DL, 6-5, 270, Tyler Goldberg, Sr., OL-DE, 6-4, 255; Doug Schenk, Sr., C-DL, 6-2, 250; Sam Greenberg, Sr., 6-4, 265; Jordan Davenport, Sr., OL-DL, 6-2, 285; Bryan Ellis, Soph., RB, 5-9, 170; Gerrard Sheppard, Sr., WR, 6-3, 200; Malcolm Hess Hampton, Sr., WR, 5-11, 200; Rudy Johnson, Soph., QB, 6-1, 190; Andrew Hood, Sr., RB, 5-10, 175; Curtis Holmes, Jr., WR-RB-LB, 5-9, 165; KC Woods, Sr., WR-LB-P, 6-0, 180; Brian Hess, Sr., WR-DB, 6 1  170.

Outlook: Not only are the Eagles loaded at nearly every position, particularly on the offensive line, but they replace Baltimore Sun All-Metro quarterback Jared Jorgenson and All-Metro wide receiver Andrew Feinberg with two potentially better athletes. The Eagles, winner of the league’s tri-championship along with Gilman and Loyola, return 20 seniors among the members of their 40-player roster. Damico said McDonogh runs as many as “eight-deep” at receiver. Of Johnson, Damico said, “Rudy is just a sophomore, but, in my opinion, he could end up being the best QB we’ve ever had. He’s got a Division I arm and can run as well as he can throw.” Johnson and Ellis, who returns to the backfield, will be protected by the Notre Dame-bound Clelland among others. “You can have all of the skill guys and shemes that you want to have, but if you’re not solid up front, you’re not going to be very good,” Damico said. “And we’re going to be strong up front.” Along with Clelland, who is Maryland’s No. 1 offensive lineman recruit, the Eagles boast Goldberg, Greenberg and Schenk. Goldberg and Greenberg are getting looks from UCONN and from Division III schools, respectively, at DE. Schenk already is getting Division II looks as a center. Along with Clelland, who is Maryland’s No. 1 offensive lineman recruit, the Eagles boast Goldberg, Greenberg and Schenk. Goldberg and Greenberg are getting looks from UCONN and from Division III schools, respectively, at DE. Schenk already is getting Division II looks as a center. “We have five kids that we think are going to be good. We’ve got Clelland at left tackle, Goldberg at right tackle. Doug Schenk will be the center. Jordan Davenport will be one of the guards and Sam Greenberg will be the other guard,” said Damico.

In his 14th year with the Eagles, McDonogh’s Dom Damico is the dean of MIAA football coaches.  During his tenure, he has guided the program to 122 wins.

“They’re all tall guys. They have the physical size to stay in there and compete in the A Conference, and that’s what you need,” Damico added. “Every time we’ve had success either winning the conference championship or competing at the highest level, we were strong up front –so that’s key.”

Also out for the team is Sheppard, a basketball player. Two other versatile returning starters include Holmes and Woods, who, like Clelland and Schenk, were members of the Eagles’ top-ranked, defending MIAA champion wrestling team last winter.

CURLEY’S SELLERS ACCEPTS LAX SCHOLARSHIP FROM MERCYHURST

FOOTBALL PREVIEW: HARD WORK WILL HAVE LOYOLA IN CONTENTION AGAIN

Loyola coach Brian Abbott believes his Dons have a shot at repeating as MIAA A Conference champs simply by being “hard-working, good kids.”

Defense: 4-3

Returning starters: 6 Offensive, 6 Defensive

Top Players:  Bubba Harris Sr., FB-LB, 6-2, 230; Leon Kinnard Jr., QB-DB, 5-9, 180; Bobby Kirby Sr., WR-P, 6-5, 190; Joe Cummings Sr. WR-DB, 6-0, 185; Terence Garvin Jr., RB-DB, 6-2, 200;  Donovan Eaton Jr., RB-DB, 5-6, 170; Jeff Timmons Sr., K, 5-11, 175; Brandon Floyd Jr., WR-DB, 6-2, 190; Matt Heacock Jr., FB-TE-LB, 5-11, 200; Charlie Jones Jr., WR-DB, 6-1, 190; Tim Bolte Sr., TE-LB, 6-1, 215; Elliott Poehlman Jr., OT-DE, 6-2, 230; Will Sellmayer Sr., OG-DT, 6-0 245; Mike Stack Sr., OG-NG, 6-0, 215; Kyle Stupi Sr. C-DT, 6-3, 265; Ivan Eames Sr., OG-DT, 6-0, 245.

	Outlook: The Dons won four straight games to end last season, and boasted a victory over four-time public school state champion Dunbar of Baltimore City. The Dons also captured a share of their third MIAA A Conference titlel since 1997, their second in Abbott’s five-year tenure at the school. Loyola capped its season by winning their annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl game against Calvert Hall for the 18th time in their past 22 meetings, improving its series-leading mark to 46-33-8 over the 87 years in which the game has been contested. Loyola’s 2006 season was engineered, offensively, by then-sophomore Leon Kinnard running the show, rushing for 11 touchdowns and passing for 11 touchdowns. Kinnard will have to rely on a talented, but virtually all-new corps of four receivers, including Cummings, Floyd and Kirby. Kirby, a top pitcher on the Dons’ baseball team, “is one of the area’s best punters,” Abbott said. Cummings, also a member of the Dons’ title-winning lacrosse team, will be counted on for his leadership, as will Harris and other seniors. Harris has added 20 more pounds of bulk, and Abbott expects a big year from him as well.
Entering his seventh season at Blakefield, Loyola head coach Brian Abbott has led the Dons to 41 wins and two A Conference crowns, while dominating arch-rival Calvert Hall in their annual Thanksgiving Day battle.

“We have hard-working, good kids,” said Abbott, who has a 41-14 record at Loyola. “The biggest question is how we come together. Our success is going to depend a lot on what our small group of seniors do.”

FLYNN TO BE HONORED DURING MEMORIAL DINNER

Morgan Wooten and Jim Phelan among those to speak in tribute of the late Cardinal Gibbons coach.